Simplicius On Aristotle Categories 5-6 [Paperback]

Chapters 5 and 6 of Aristotle'sCategoriesdescribe his first two categories, Substance and Quantity. It is usually taken that Plotinus attacked Aristotle'sCategories, but that Porphyry and Iamblichus restored it to the curriculum once and for all. Nonetheless, the introduction to this text stresses how much of the defence of Aristotle Porphyry was able to draw out of Plotinus' critical discussion. Simplicius' commentary is our most comprehensive account of the debate on the validity of Aristotle'sCategories. One subject discussed by Simplicius in these chapters is where the differentia of a species (eg the rationality of humans) fits into the scheme of categories. Another is why Aristotle elevates the category of Quantity to second place, above the category of Quality. Further, de Haas shows how Simplicius distinguishes different kinds of universal order to solve some of the problems.

Preface
Introduction
Textual Emendations
TRANSLATION
Notes
Bibliography English-Greek
Glossary Greek-English Index
Index of Passages Cited
Subject
Index

Professor Frans A.J. de Haas is Chair of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy and Academic Director at the Institute of Philosophy, Leiden University, Netherlands.
Barrie Fleet is Preceptor and Director of Studies in Classics at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.

Chapters 5 and 6 of Aristotle's Categories describe his first two categories, Substance and Quantity. Simplicius' commentary is our most comprehensive account of the debate on the validity of these categories. This text provides a translation of Simplicius' work, with an introduction.